Manufacture of wrought iron



Oct. 19, 1937. H.`A. BRAs'sER-r MANUFACTURE `OF lWROUGHT IRON Filed July 30, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV NTOR w Nv Oct.` 19, 1937. H, A- BRASSERT 4 2,095,965.

MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON Filed July 30, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 j INVEO? Oct. 19, 1937. H. A. BRAssERT MANUFAGTURE OF WROUGHT IRON Filed July 30, 1939 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 19, 1937. A, BRASSERT 2,095,965

MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON Filed July 50,' 1952 9 sheets-sheet 4 I INVENTOR Ll /WQ wwf Get. 19, 1937. HqA. BRAssERT MANUFACTURE OF WOUGHT IRON Filed July so, 1952 9 sheets-sheet s lN ENTOR Oct.. 19, 1937. H. A. BRAssl-:RT

MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON Filed July :50,l 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,ML 4M Oct. 19, 1937. H. A. BRAssl-:RT 2,095,965

' MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT IRON Filed July 5o, 1952 9 sheets-sheet 7 I gYEN Oct. 19, 1937. H. A. BRAssERT MANUFACTURE OF' WROUGHT IRON 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed JulyfO,` 1932 ALnMulL INVENTOR @guai lm IIEE Oct'. 19, 1937. H.-A. BRAssERT MANUFAGTURE 0F wRouGHT IRON .9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed July 30, 1932 .Patented oa. i9, 1937 PATENT oFF-rcs 2,095,935 mmacruaaor wnoucn'r moN Herman A. BrasscrtfCfhicago, lll., asaignor to A. M. Byers-Company. Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 30, 1932, Serlal No.l 626,984

This invention relates broadly to the manufacture of wrought iron, and more particularly to the' manufacture of wrought iron in accordance with the now well known Aston process; The

invention further relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of wrought iron and which are particularly adaptable to the Aston process. The invention stili' further relates to certain improved methods of and apparatus for the manufacture of wrought iron, which methods and apparatus result in numerous advantages over the manufacture of wrought iron by the Aston process as heretofore known.

The Aston process -forfthe 'manufacture of wrought iron is now'well known and, in a preferred manner of procedure, comprises pouring molten ferrous material into a slag bath so that the solidified or partly solidified granules of ferrous material formedrduring the pouring a're lndividuallycoated with slag and welded" together to form at the bottom of the slag receptacle a compressible mass or ball of wrought iron. The ball thus formed /canbe compressed to form a Y billet or any other desired form.

In order to insure the uniform distribution of the molten ferrous material throughout the slag, and to avoid excessive heating of any one portion v of the latter, there have been devised certain 30 methods of and apparatus for automatically pouring moltenferrous material into a slag bath in' such a manner that theVv desired result is obtained.

Such methods are specifically described 'and claimed in Wille Patent No. 1,890,660, granted De- 35 cember 13, 1932, and such apparatus is specifically described andl claimed in Wille Patent No. 1,933,- 577, granted November '1, 1933.

I have devised certain methods of procedure and manufacture ofwrought iron bythe Aston process designed toj'ffacilitate the operations, reduce the lamount of #me required for the completion thereof so that'fthe process may be carried out more emclently I and more expeditiously, and 45 otherwise increas'egthe emciency of the operation and maintain thehigh standard of quality of the product. .I provide. a plant for the manufacture of wrought iron comprising means for supplying 50 molten ferrous materiahmeans for supplying slag, a press, and o neo more shotting machines."

Vliiach shutting machine preferably comprises a reciprocable platform carrying ay table adapted for rotary movement. A tiitableladle is preferably 55 supported on the table and knzic'ans are preferably bloom which may then be rolled or reduced to a certain arrangements of equipment used in the )is described and claimed/in the copending applilcation of James Aston 'andmysel Serial No.

provided for reciprocating theplatform, rotating the table andtilting the ladle, all of said operafor indicating the weight of ferrous material being 10 poured during the pour so that therate of pour can be controlled. l

In the plant arrangement previously mentioned, a track is` preferably provided to connect the slag furnace or furnaces and shotting machine or machines and to lead to a slag transfer station, preferablyadjacent a ball press, whereby cars carry-l ing slag receptacles may -be readily shifted from one point in the plant to another. Briey, Lthe arrangement in a present preferred embodiment is such that emptyslagV receptacles may be positioned adjacent the slag furnace to receive a charge of slag. The cars are then moved to position the slag receptacles beneath the shutting machines which pour the required amount of molten/ ferrous material into the slag and distrlbuteit therc'ethrough.y In order to increase the speed of production I employ a plurality of shotting machines whereby several slag receptacles may simultaneously receive a charge of molten ferrous ma- 30 teria] into their respective slag contents. The cars are shifted from the shotting machines, excess slag is transferred from-the slag receptacles and the balls are removed therefrom adjacent the press for treatment therein. Preferably the excess slag is dccanted from each slag receptacle, and it is found highly advantageous to transfer the excess slag, either by decantation or otherwise,

into another slag receptacle disposed at the same level, preferably directly, and this mayconveniently be done by lifting and tilting the slag receptacle, and, after th desired quantity of excess sl'ag has been removed, dumping out the ball, preferably directly into 'fiewp'ress This feature 626,995, filed of even date herewith. The excess slag is preferably reused forthe formation of one or more additional balls, withljor without additions.

It is preferred to .replenish the excess slag with additional molten slag. Thisfeature is described and claimed in the copending application of James Aston and Edward B. St4ory,` Serial No. 626,986, filed of even date herewith. 7

' The means for supplying moltenferrousmaterial may be of any suitable or well known type, and in the production of limited quantities of wrought iron I nd that certain advantages are obtained by using one or-'more cupolas wherein the metal is melted and one or more Bessemer converters to which the melted metal is transferred for refining. The converter or converters may be tapped into a transfer receptacle which delivers the rened metal to the shotting machines.

The invention may be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following description, the drawings illustrating a present preferred embodiment of the invention which is nowise to limit the scope thereof as it is intended merely as an example. Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will ybecome apparent as the ldescription proceeds.

production of wrought iron by the Aston process;

run-'off is shown at 6 and the slag run-off at 1. -55

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevational view to enlarged scale of a portion of the layout rep resented in Fig.` 1, such as might be taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view to enlarged scale of a portion of the layout represented Fig. 6 is a plan view to enlarged scale of a portion of the layout represented in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-.VII of Fig. 6, showing parts in elevation;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the shotting machines; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there are provided three cupolas, designated generally b-y reference numeral 2, erected within an enclosure 3 and which may be of standard or well known construction. Means 4 is provided fo charging the cupolas. The air'for the cupolas upplied by one or more fans 5. Themetal As no novelty is claimed for the specific `construction of the cupolas, the above general description of them will suilice.

There are also provided two Bessemer converters which may be of standard or well known construction, such converters being designated generally by reference numeral 8. The usual converter accessories are provided, and in view of the fact that no novelty is claimed forth specific construction of the converters, they need not be described in further detail.

, A platform 9 is provided which extends longitudinally from the cupolas past the converters. l

A track I is provided on the platform. such track extending from a point beneath the metal runouts of the'cupolas past the converters. A transfer car II provided with a tilting ladle I2 operates on the track III.; "I'he molten metal from the cupolas is tapped into the transfer ladle I2,

Vthe slag is raked off and the metal is otherwise treatedas may be desired, and the car II is then moved to a position opposite one or the other of the converters 8 and the molten metal is poured into such converter, as indicated in Fig. 4. The converter is then rotated to blowing position and the metal is Bessemerzed or refined.

The cupolas may be tapped alternately, the three cupolas furnishing approximately the right amount of metal to keep the converters in operation. The converters may be operated alternately or their operation may be staggered, one converter blowing while the other is being tapped and charged. If smaller capacity is desired one of the converters may be used alone and one or two of the cupolas shut down. In any event, 'the mechanism describedproduces batches of refined ferrous material at spaced intervals. The amount of material in each batch and the intervals between batches will be controlled so as to coordinate with the shotting apparatus presently to be described.

'I'here are provided a pair of slag furnaces, designated generally by reference numeral I3, which are preferably of the tilting open hearth type' and which are provided with run-outs I4. These furnaces may be of standard or well known construction, and as no novelty is claimed for their specific construction, they will not be described in detail.

'I'he slag furnaces produce an iron oxide silicate slag suitable for the formation of wrought iron in accordance with the Aston process. If smaller capacity is desired one of the furnaces may be used alone. In any event, whether one or both of the furnaces are used, quantities of molten slag are available at spaced intervals so as to coordinate with the other units of the plant, as will presently be described.

`There are provided a plurality of shotting machines designated generally by reference numeral 2I and a press designated generally by reference numeral 22. The shotting machines 2I are mounted on a working floor or platform 23 which may conveniently be at the same level as the platform 9 and may form a continuation thereof. Trains of slag receptacle cars 24 are adapted to be moved past the furnaces, the shotting machines and the press on a track 25 by means of any suitable source of motive power. An electric locomotive I may Aconveniently be used for this purpose.l 'I'he track 25 is preferably disposed at the working level ofthe plant, taken as a whole, which is a substantial distance below the level of the working floor 23 and may conveniently be at the level of the track 21, presently to be described.

The shotting machines proper are illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, Figs. 6 and 7 showing they construction. In general, each shotting machine consists of a reciprocable platform 30,v a table 3| adapted for rotary movement on the platform and a ladle 32 tiltably mounted on the table 3I. The platform 30 has an opening 3|)a therein and is provided with wheels 33 which rest on rails 34 to permit reciprocation of the platform. The rails 34 are carried by thebeam 35 of aplatform scale having an indicating dial 36. ySuitable stops 31 shown in Fig. 8 limit the reciprocating movement of the platform 30. As shown in Fig. 6 the shotting machines 2I overlie openings 2|9L in the floor 23 and the rotary table 3| of each machine has a circular opening 3| a therein of the same size as the opening 30a in the platform 30 so that it is possible, by tilting the ladle 32, to pour metal 2,095,965 therefrom through the opening 3| in the table,

the'opening 30* in the platform 36, and the opening 2lEL in the floor 23,into a receptacle beneath the machine.

'I'he means for reciprocating the platform 36 includes an electric motor 31' andreduction gearing 38 which serves to connect the motor t the axle The platform 36 has a circular track 4| surrounding the opening 30n in the platform. The

table`3l is provided with wheels 42 engaging the track 4| so that the table may be given a rotary movement with respect to the platform 30. Stops 43 prevent over-travel of the table and automatic means for oscillating the table on its track iny clude a'motor 44 andireductiori gearing 45 con--v necti'ng the motor to one of the wheels 42. A limit switch 46 is driven from the reduction gearing and reverses the motor 44 periodically so that the table 3| executes an oscillatory movement.

The ladle 32 has trunnions'50 in bearings 41 on the platform 3| which carries means for tilting the ladle 32 comprising a motor 48 and reduction gearing 49. A tilting shaft 5I is journalled in a housing 52 and carries a tilting gear 53 which is in mesh with the reduction gearing 49. A clutch 54 normally connects the tilting shaft 5| and one of the ladle trunnions. 56. A limit switch 55 is driven bythe reduction gearing 49 to prevent excessive tilting of the ladle 32.

The various'reduction gears and the limit and reversing switches previously mentioned are well known devices and are not described in detail for gears is indicated on the drawings and will-be obvious from an inspection thereof. The limit and reversing switches 39, 46 and 55 are arranged .to be driven from their respective reduction gears I 38, 45 and `49 at a speed such that the operations of the various members ofthe shotting machine will be properly coordinated. These arrangements,` however, are subject to change dependingi upon the -size of the charge and other factors. `'Ihe stroke of the platform 30, the angular movement of the table 3| and the tilting movement -of the ladle 32 may be adjusted to suit different sizes of slag receptacles and charges of different` weights. Variations in the extent of movementof the shotting machine produce different distributions of the molten ferrous material in the slag bath.

Any number of the shotting machines u'sed, depending upon the capacity of operation desired. Previous to theshotting operation of any given shotting machine a slag receptacle carried on one of the slag receptacle cars 24 is `placed directly beneath the shotting machine? Prior to tion of the plant; and assuming that only two of 'the shotting machines are to be operated, a quantity'of suitable molten slag is first prepared in one. of the slag furnaces, and-such furnace is 4"tapped either 'into a' ladle (not shown) carried fand manipulated by'an overhead crane I6, which ladle in turn supplies the slag to two slag 'receptacles mounted on cars positioned on the track adjacent the slag furnaces, or into the" two slag receptacles themselves, in which case the slag receptacles are lifted from the cars by the overhead crane and in turn held in position to receive the slag tapped from theffurnace. The two slag receptacles may be filled with slag approximately up to the point indicated by the line 60. The cars carrying such two slag receptacles are then moved along the track 25 in the direction of the arrows until the receptacles lie directly beneath the two shotting machines which are to operate as above stated.

Meanwhile molten ferrousmaterial has been prepared in one Vof the cupolas'and has been transferred as above .explained to one of the Bessemer converters where fit is refined. After completion of the-refining operation the con verter discharges its contents into a label 6| removably mounted on a car 62 movable longitudinallyon a track 21 which extends to a position I each shotting machine is determined by the scale upon which the shotting machine is mounted.

An operator on the platform watches the scale dial 36 and signalsthe crane operator when to stop pouring. If convenient the ladle'Gl may be completely emptied into the two shotting machine ladies, although if it should be desired to introduce into the shotting machine ladles less that reason. The arrangement of the reduction than all of the material in the ladle 6 I, such ladle containing vthe residue of the molten ferrous material is withdrawn and the molten ferrous material may be maintained in the ladle 6| until directly opposite the shotting machines (see Fig.

the succeeding shotting operation, when it may be poured into oneor more of the shotting machine ladies. 'I'his procedure is of advantage when, for example; it is desired to pour relatively ,small amounts of molten ferrous material into the shotting machine ladies for the purpose' of forming relatively small balls of wrought iron.

It would be undesirable to proportionately reduce the amountbf material in a converter heat, andy one converter heat may thus be ,used for more than one shotting operation. The molten ferrous material in the ladle 46| remains hot enough motors 31', and 482 I'he starting and control circuits and devices for these motors 'arelstandvard equipment and are-not described in detail. y When the motors 31', 44 and 48 are started, the

platform A30 of each shotting machine is reciprocated on its wheels 33 along the rails 34. Simultaneously, thetable 3| is oscillated on its wheels 42 resting on the track 4|. A tilting movement is likewise imparted to the ladle 32 so that the.

latter reciprocates longitudinally with the platf orm 3ll,oscillates about thel vertical axis of the table 3|"and is tilted about its own horizontal axis. By properly adjusting the limitswitches controlling the movement of the platform and table, the stream of molten ferrous material poured from the ladle 32 may be caused to trace paths of different shapes.

'I'he pouring of the molten ferrous material from the shotting machine ladle into the slag rec eptacle is fully described and illustrated in said Wille patents, and as the specific manner of pouring forms no part of the present invention it will not be described here in detail.

Since different amounts of metal are required for the formation of balls of different weights, pouring will start at different points in the tilting movement of the ladle in ,accordance with the amount of lmetal in the ladle. The ladle may be tilted to the pouring position before the platform reciprocation andtable oscillation are commenced in order to insure that the stream' will strike the slag bath surface at the same point in the beginning of each complete operation. The speed of tilting the ladle is preferably adjusted so that the pouring rate is approximately 1000 pounds per minute. At the beginning of the pour the slag receptacle is approximately half full and at the end ofthe pour the slag and ball may practically fill the receptacle to the top.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention I have provided for a maximum travel of the platform of eight feet. When it is desired to manufacture balls of smaller sizes, however, the stroke of the platform may be reduced by properly adjusting the limit and reversing switches.

After the required amount of ferrous material has been introduced into each slag receptacle the cars 24 are removed from beneath the floor 23 to a convenient position for removal of excess slag. It is preferred to remove excess slag yat a position adjacent the press 22, and such position will for convenience be called the slag transfer station. It is found desirable to remove excess slag by decanting and to this end it is convenient to lift the slag receptacle and tilt it. An overhead crane I1 may conveniently be used for this purpose. Excess slag will thereby be decanted from the receptacle, the ball remaining therein.

The ball is removed from the slag receptacle to the press, this preferably being done by substantially inverting the slag receptacle and dumping out the ball. I prefer to dump the ball directly into the press and then to compress it to form a bloom of wrought iron which may then be given any desired treatment, such as rolling, to produce Wrought iron articles. In Fig. 5 the wrought iron ball or sponge I8 is shown as havlng been dumped onto the press reception plate I9 from which it is pushed toward the left, viewlng Fig. 5, by the pusher 20 until it falls into the pressing chamber. In the pressing chamber it is compressed by several movable rams 26 into a bloom of the. desired shape.

As the wrought iron is adapted for fabrication into many different products of different sizes and shapes, and as unfinished shapes such as billets, slabs, etc.,fof different sizes aredesirable for producing the'various finished articles, it is` likewise desirable to produce in the blooming mill billets and slabS of various different crosssections and'length'sf However, it is impracticable to attempt to 'form in a blooming mill widely different sizes and"shapes of slabs and billets from blooms of standard size. Therefore, I provide for supplying blooms of various sizes, and as thesize of a bloom depends upon the size of the wrought iron sponge or ball, balls of different sizes are made vto conform with the products to be rolled on the blooming mill.

While it is ordinarily desirable to empty a shotting machineladle at each shottlngoperation, nevertheless if relatively small balls are to be formed the shotting machine ladle may be only partly emptied during one shotting operation and may be completely emptied upon the succeeding operation, or the residue remaining in it after the rst shotting operation may be replenished by additional molten ferrous material and part or all of the aggregate thus formed may be poured into the slag bath upon the succeeding shotting operation. The provision of the scale makes possible close control of the size of the ball even though only part of the ferrous .material is poured out of the shotting machine ladle into the slag bath at one shotting operation, and

even though the ferrous material is replenished before the succeeding shotting operation.

It sometimes happens that a relatively small quantity of slabs or billets of a particular size is desired, such, for example, that one small ball would provide a bloom suitable for rolling into the desired quantity ofslabs or billets of n the size in question. I therefore provide. for dividing a heat of refined metal into unequal portions. Av

small ball and a relatively large ball, for example, may be formed at the same time. The small ball produces a small bloomv which, in turn, is suitable for rolling in the blooming mill into the desired number of slabs or billets of the desired size. f' If the entire heat were utilized for the formation of balls of the same size this desirable result would not be possible. Likewise, the desirable result would not be-possible if all of the balls made at one shotting operation should be of the same size.

The provision of the scale also makes possible regulation and control of the rate of pour. As a shotting-machine ladle is progressively emptied during shotting, theoperator on the platform by watching the scale dial can observe the decrease in weight of the shotting ladle and con-l tents, which is equivalent to the weight of the ferrous material poured into the slag bath. By suitably controlling the vtilting of the ladle a desired rate of pour can be obtained. The rate of pour is preferably maintained uniform, although if for any reason it should b desired to do so the rate could be altered during the pour. Certain methods of and apparatus for controlling the pour are described and claimed in the copending application of Edward B. Story and William T. Case, Serial No. 628,125, led August l0,

It is preferred to have a second slag receptacle at the slag transfer station during decanting of each slag receptacle and to decant the excess slag directly into the second receptacle. The second receptacle is pteferably at the Working level, that' is to say, the lsame level occupied by the first slag receptacle before it is lifted for decanting. 'Ihis eliminates the provision 'of a plurality of working levels atthe slag transfer station.

It is convenient to utilize a train comprising at least'one more slag receptacle car than there are shotting machines in operation, For example, with two shotting machines in' operation it would be preferable to use a three-car train, two of the cars having slag receptacles provided with slag and the thirdcar having arr empty slag receptacle. After completion of theI shotting operation and removal of the train to the slag transfer station one of the filled receptacles would first decant its excess slag into the -empty slag receptacle and then dump out its ball into the pressi Then the second` filled slagl receptacle would decant its excess vslag into the slag receptacle just emptied and dump its ball into the press, the last slagl receptacle emptied being used as the empty slag receptacle for the succeeding shotticng operation. If desired, the last slag refceptacle can be held at the slag transfer station untilthe return of the two cars having lled receptacles after the succeeding shotting operation, whereupon such empty receptacles can be placed on its car and the-decanting procedure above described repeated. It is sometimes preferable, in order tov equalize heat transfer, to use twice as'many slag receptacle cars asthereV are shotting machines in operation so that each slag receptacle will be alternately ,filled and empty.v

The excess slag is preferably reused while still molten for the formation of one or more additional balls.y The slag-receptacle containing the' excess slag is returned to the shotting or pouring rstation Where the shutting or pouring operation is repeated. By the use of my improved processes I am able` to speed up the operation sufficiently that I can eliminate the measures previously taken` to conserve the heat of the slag. It has heretofore been proposed to conserve the heat ofthe slag byusing a heat insulated slag receptacle, this having been found necessary or desirable when the operation was carried out so slowly that there was danger that the slag would be too low in temperature for proper ball formation by the time the subsequent shotting operation could be carried out. The provision of insulated slag receptacles entailed additional expense and was also the cause of operating diflicultles, and I eliminate these disadvantages by doing away with thel insulation forthe slag receptacles. and returning the slag receptacle with the excess slag 'to the pouring station so quicklyv that the slag remains at proper temperature. I therefore propose to use uninsulated slag receptacles.- Furthermore, uninsulated receptacles need not be handled so carefully as insulated receptacles and this aids in speeding up the operation.

By uninsulated slag receptacles I mean slag receptacles which do not have insulating material applied previously to their use and of a different character than material contained within the receptacles during use. 'Ihe slag receptaf cles used in my process may acquire askull or' lining of solidified slag which may have insuyf Operations may then be' repeated,

I have thus `provided methods and apparatus lating properties, but such skull or lining does not make my receptacles insulated receptacles Within the meaning intended.

Additions may be made to the slag before reuse, and it is preferred to replenish the molten slagwith additional molten slag from the slag furnace, andpreferably with molten slag having the samel characteristics or whose analysis is approximately the same as that of the excess slag. To thisend I move the slag receptacle containing the excess slag along the track inthe direction of the arrows in Figure 1 to a position adjacent the slag furnace, which position may be termed aLslag supply'station, Where additional slag from thefurnace is introduced 'into the slag receptacla/ The slag terjn'perature can be controlled by replenishment"wlthmolten slagfrom the slag furnace. Duringthe shotting operation the fer' rous material, being hotter than the slag, gives up heat to the slag and the slag therefore becomes appreciably hotter and may become undesirably hot, that is tc say, so hot that the proper temperature differential `would not be obtained if it should belattempted to again pour ferrous material into the excess slag. On account of the rapiditywith which I am enabled perature may be closely controlled by regulating the amount of slag added from the slag furnace. a Occasionally, due to, unforseen interruptions, a batch of excess slag may have to stand so long as to become undesirably cool. As above mentioned,-the temperature of such slag was formerly attempted to be" maintained by the use vof heat insulating material in connection with the slag receptacle. However, the slag can be brought up to such a temperature that the proper differential may be obtained by adding a proper amount of slag from the slag furnace. When the excess slag has cooled down below the temperature of the slag in the slag furnace the greater the amount of slag addedfrom the slag furnace the higher will be the temperature of the resultant mixture or aggregate. These features are described andclaimed in said copending application of Aston and Story. Itis known to be desirable to form a ball havingat least one horizontal dimension greater than its vertical dimension, and such a ball may conveniently be formed by utilizing my improved processes even though excess slag is returned without replenishment to the pouring station.-

The ferrous material may be distributed over the for rapidly and efiiciently carrying out the Aston process for the manufacture of wrought iron. The operations of. the shotting machines are largely automatic and a minimum of manual con-v trol is necessary. This makes it possible for a comparatively large installation tobe controlled 'brlfew men with a resulting lowering inl costs production. 'The -plant layout is such that theo'pe'ration is of the linje variety so that no unnecessary transportation of material in process is necessary., 1

The movementof the shotting machines is such as to secure a uniform distribution of the metal throughout the slagso that a superior quality" of wrought iron is produced.

Although I-have illustrated but a single preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not intend to be limited! tq the Lspecific details thereofv since the inyenun may practiced in cthersurface of the slag so as to produce a ball having v apparent to those skilled in the art and all such changes may be made without departing from the 4invention as deiined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of making wrought iron compris-y ing providing a batch of ferrous material, ilrst dividing said batch into portions in separate receptacles, and then simultaneously incorporating said portions with slag to form sepamte wrought iron balls. l

2. Apparatus for making wrought iron comprising a, plurality of sc'ales each carrying a pouring receptacle, common means for supplying material to said receptacles, and separate receptacles adapted to receive the pour from the respective pouring receptacles.. f

` 3. Apparatus for making wrought iron comprising a shottihg station, a slagltransfer station,

'a train carrying a pluralityof slag receptacles movable to said respective stations, and means for transferring at least a portion of the contents of one of said slag receptacles to another thereof while the second mentioned slag receptacle is in place on said train.

4'. A method of making wrought iron comprising pouring ferrous material into a receiving receptacle containing molten slag predetrminedly positioned at a pour I receiving station .from a pouring receptacle having laterally. rigid mounting upon a pouring iloor disposed at a higher level than and fixed relatively to the pour receiving station and controlling the position of the pouring 'receptacle relatively to thepouring oor throughout the pour whereby to insure definite positive control of the entry of the ferrous material into the moltenslag and consequent regular production of balls of high quality.

sacamos r forms. Minorchanges and alterations will be 5. Apparatus for making wrought iron comprlsing a pour receiving receptacle adapted to'be predeterminedly positioned at a, pour receivingstation, a pouring floor disposed at a higher level than and fixed relatively tothe pour receiving station, a pouring receptacle having laterally rigid mounting upon the pouring floor and adapted to pour its contents into the pour receiving receptacle and means to predeterminedly control the position of the pouring receptacle relatively-to the pouring iloor throughout thepour.

6. Apparatus for making wrought iron comprising a pour receiving receptacle adapted lto be predeterminedly positioned 'at apour receiving station, a. pouring iioor disposed at a higher level ,than and ilxed relatively to the pour receiving station, a tiltable pouring receptacle 'having laterally rigid mounting upon the pouring floor and adapted to pour' its contentisinto the pour receiving receptacle, means for tilting the receptacle and means for predeterminedly controlling the tilting movement of the pouring receptacle throughout the pour.l v

, 7,. Apparatus 'for making wrought iron, comprisingmeans for supplying/molten slag, a plurality of slag receptacles' for receiving slag from said slag supplyinameans, means foi-supplying molten ferrous material, a transfer receptacle for said moltenvfe'rrous material 'and a plurality of pouring receptacles each adapted to receive a por-.- tion of the molten ferrous materialmfrom said transfer receptacle, said pouringreceptacie b'eing mounted relatively to said slag receptacles so' as to pour molten ferrous material into slag contained therein to'form balls of wrought iron.

HERMAN A. BRAssER'r. 

